Petersburg's Kéet Yaakw: First Canoe in Century Blessed at Sandy Beach

PETERSBURG, Alaska — Over 100 people assembled at Sandy Beach on April 19 for the unveiling and traditional blessing of kéet yaakw, the Petersburg Indian Association's first canoe in roughly a century. The event, organized by the local tribe, featured Tlingit elders performing the ceremony after the canoe's inaugural launch on the water, honoring its name meaning 'killer whale fin' in Lingít.

The 30-foot red cedar canoe, hand-carved over months, represents a significant cultural milestone for the small Southeast Alaska borough of 2,900 residents. Tribe members hosted paddle-making classes in the weeks prior, building community skills ahead of the vessel's voyage. Kéet yaakw will transport Petersburg tribal citizens to Celebration 2026 in Juneau, starting June 3, as part of the annual festival drawing thousands for Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian traditions.

'This canoe connects us to our ancestors and waters,' said tribal leaders during the blessing, which included prayers for safe journeys and gratitude to the forest spirits, echoing broader Pacific Northwest Indigenous practices. The Petersburg Indian Association seeks donations and puller applications via piatribal.org to support the trip. As climate and cultural revitalization efforts intensify in Alaska's coastal communities, kéet yaakw symbolizes resilience amid a century without such craft.